Page 36 of Sawyer
“It looks bad, Ma.”His voice is shaky, concern evident in his eyes as he looks at my head.
“It’s fine.I’m fine, Kev.”I don’t want him to worry as I get us inside quickly and lock the door behind us.Again, checking it a few times to ensure it’s latched properly before I pull a chair in front of it for extra protection.
As I turn to walk to the kitchen to get a clean cloth for my head, I feel a little woozy and grab on to the table when my vision blurs.
“Ma!”Kevin comes to my side and grabs my elbow, and I blink a few times until I see more clearly again.
“I might just take a seat.Rest a little.Can you get me a glass of water, honey?”I ask him as I walk slowly to the armchair, my eyesight fading again as I take a seat.My son rushes to the kitchen for the water, bringing it back to me right away.
I take it, my hand shaking so much the water almost spills.
“I’ll just check on Noah.”
I nod.He’s such a good boy.I have no idea what I’d do without him.
17
Sawyer
“Here, gents.”Connor brings a tray of whiskey glasses to the table.
“Thank you.”Hudson grabs a glass, his one and only tonight, which he’ll drink along with a large bottle of water.
“Appreciate it.”I need at least a few of these to drown out that blaring country music on the large jukebox at the end of the bar.Thursday night drinks look a lot different now than they used to.
Tanner and Connor each grab one, and the four of us sit there, relaxing.
“Soooooo, Annabelle?”Connor looks at me with a shit-eating grin on his face, and I bite my lip so I don’t do the same.
“What about her?”I act nonchalant, taking a sip of my whiskey.I can hardly wrap my thoughts around it all, so I’m sure as hell not going to start gushing about her to these guys.
“What’s going on?What did I miss?”Hudson looks at us all, confusion written all over his face.
“Sawyer here has been spending time with Annabelle…” Tanner looks at me like he’s waiting for me to fuck up.I swallow but meet his gaze.
“Really?”Hudson asks me.
“Just dinner, getting to know her a little bit.”I prefer to keep my cards close to my chest, yet in a town like this, that’s impossible.But Annabelle is a private person too.And I respect that.My thoughts about her consume me most days.I haven’t felt like this about a woman in forever, and that scares me a little.Leaves me feeling a little vulnerable, like my chest is wide open for her.
“A nice woman, pretty quiet, keeps to herself,” Hudson adds.“I had a feeling you might be interested in her.”
“She’s great.She’s smart, good work ethic, a great mom, beautiful, independent, an amazing cook, easy to talk to, fucking beautiful…”
“You said that already,” Connor jumps in, chuckling as he cuts off my rambling.
“Who would’ve thought our city boy here might actually come to like Whispers,” Hudson teases.
“It’s growing on me.”As I take another sip of whiskey, Tanner's gaze is still on me.I can already hear his warning before he speaks.
“Just…” Tanner starts to say, and I interrupt.
“I know.Go slow.Take care of her.I know, trust me.I’m not a total asshole.She’s been through a lot and I’m not about to add to her troubles.”This feeling is entirely new.I have no idea how to go slow.I’ve never had to work hard for a woman before and never had the desire to before now.But as I sit here in Whiteman’s Bar, my tie loose, my collar open, my usual pristine suit no longer feeling necessary, my want for her continues to grow.
He nods, then says, “That remains to be seen,” making Connor and Hudson laugh.Before I can say anything more, my cell vibrates in my jacket, and I pull it out, seeing Annabelle’s name, a grin coming to my face immediately.
“Hey, Annabelle.”
All three men look at me intently, trying to get the inside scoop.
